NORMAL, Ill- WIU baseball struggled in both games of their doubleheader against Illinois State on Saturday afternoon, falling 11-4 in game one and getting shut out 10-0 in game two at Duffy Bass Field.
The Leathernecks (5-11) jumped ahead in game one with a three-run third inning, thanks to a Liam Bushey three-run homer to left field. Tyler Large added an RBI single in the fifth, but that was all the offense WIU had in the opener.
On the mound, Jason Buhl got the start but ran into trouble, allowing six runs (five earned) over three innings. The bullpen came in for relief in the fourth inning, but the Redbirds kept adding on, eventually piling up 15 hits against WIU pitching in game one.
In game two WIU managed just three hits in a 10-0 loss. Bushey continued to be a bright spot with a double in the top of the sixth inning, but the Leathernecks struggled to generate scoring chances, leaving six runners on base. Bushey would go 2-3 in game two to lead the Leatherneck offense.
On the mound, Frederick Romano got the start but lasted just 3.1 innings, giving up five runs. ISU tacked on runs in the later innings to put the game out of reach.
Following the sweep, WIU will look to regroup before their next game on Tuesday as they will travel to Carbondale, Ill. where they will take on Southern Illinois. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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